Lightning flashed overhead as the tractor-pulled-trailer filled with thrill seekers made its way through dark and eerie woods. The air was filled with screams, cries of anguish, gunshots and explosions.Zombies, seeking their next victim, emerged from the foliage.As the trailer pulled into the ghost town, the riders realized they were surrounded. Zombies, witches, vampires, werewolves and other creatures seemed to come out of the woodwork and surround the unfortunates who ventured into their town.Suddenly, Tim Emery jumped out and shot the monsters with his six-shooter, clearing a path for the trailer and its passengers to make it to safety.This was the scene is at Copper Canyon Ranch, which kicked off its annual haunted ghost town Saturday night. This year, the haunted event is called “Revelation Trail” in reference to a movie of the same name that was filmed on the property and is to be released in the next few months.The ranch’s owners Tim and Carole Emery bought the ranch nearly 30 years ago and built an 1800s-style western town on the property. Since then, they have hosted fright nights every Saturday during October.For the last three years, the Hopkinsville High School drama class has collaborated with the Emerys, playing many of the creepy creatures stationed throughout the property and dead set on scaring those who braved the haunted trailer ride.Tim Emery said having the high school students' participation has been energizing for him and that they have added a new dynamic to the haunted tours.“They’re so great,” he said. “They are so enthusiastic and energetic and they always come up with new ideas to make the show better or scarier, which helps to keep the show fresh.”HHS junior Carah Rucks, 15, said this is her second year working on the ghost town.“It’s really fun,” she said. “We get to dress up and do scary makeup and act all crazy and then we chill by a bonfire in between the tours.”Acting along with the students was Philip Bader, a teacher at HHS. Bader teaches 11th- and 12th-grade U.S. history and psychology. He’s been a part of the ghost town production for three years and said he usually winds up playing a part that ends in him dying, whether it be by getting shot, eaten by zombies or committing mock suicide. “Tim and Carole really love what they do out here,” he said. “And it’s the perfect venue to have a haunted house.”Bader also said the drama students are happy to participate and they have a lot of fun.Among those daring to venture in to the haunted ghost town were Payton Martin, 13, and Brock Sandbrink, 11.“This is my first time going to any haunted thing,” Payton said nervously. “I don’t like big scary monsters and chainsaws.”She also said she had butterflies in her stomach and goose bumps on her body.This, however, was not Brock’s first time braving the haunted woods.“I loved it last year,” he said. “It was the best. It was better than my own Halloween party.”After surviving their adventure, Payton said she hid during the ride.“I was on the floor the whole time,” she said. “I thought it was really scary. The scariest part was when the creepy clown guy kept following behind the trailer. I don’t like clowns.”Brock, however, loved the tour.“I thought it was awesome,” he said. “It was better and scarier than last year’s.”Unlike Payton, Brock said that the stalking clown was his “favorite part.”Stacy Sims and her children, Brandon and Ariana, were also passengers on the ghost town ride.“There were so many monsters constantly coming out at you,” she said. “That’s what made it so good. Everywhere you looked zombies and monsters were coming out of the bushes and buildings.”The ranch did approximately five tours Saturday night, each consisting of about 30 people ready to face monsters and demons. The first tour started around 7 p.m. and the last tour took off around 10 p.m. Tim and Carol said they don’t have any set ending time. They keep going as long as they have people to scare.Tours will continue every Saturday until Oct. 26. The first tour starts at dark. Admission is $10 per person. For more information and to make sure tours are still running, call 270-269-2416.REACH KAT RUSSELL at 270-887-3241 or krussell@kentuckynewera.com.